Concerns for frogs in peril
Carers baffled by chemical burns injuries
WILDLIFE carers are baffled by multiple cases of frogs being found in Cairns with petrol or caustic chemicals poured on them.
But despite the potential animal cruelty, there is an even bigger threat to amphibians that Far North Queenslanders are being asked to keep an eye out for.
Frog Safe Inc has had three cases in the past two months of green tree frogs having burns on them after they were rescued from Woree, Cairns CBD and Manunda.
Deborah Pergolotti, the president of the Garners Beach based frog hospital, said she was not sure whether the burns were deliberate, but the circumstances of the frogs encountering the chemicals accidentally in the wild was “a bit far fetched.”
“Our organisation includes the rescue of unwanted frogs as part of our work,” she said.
“We want to stress to anyone, who simply doesn’t enjoy having these gentle creatures around, to ring us before you do something drastic.
“Frog populations worldwide are in decline and the last thing they need is to be harmed by people who don’t appreciate their value.”
Ms Pergolotti said the cold weather made native amphibian populations even more prone to chytrid fungus, which had wiped out populations of the animals worldwide.
“Winter in FNQ is the only time that the dreaded chytrid fungus is active and killing frogs,” she said.
“The first sign to look out for – especially if you are on the Tablelands or live near a creekline that comes off the Tablelands – is for any frog that is soaking in water during the day.
“If you don’t have a pond or creek in your yard, another sign to look for is a frog just sitting on the ground in an almost hunched over position with its head slightly tucked in – what a psychologist might call a withdrawn demeanour.
“If you find any frogs fitting these descriptions, use gloves on your hands to pick it up, put it into a plastic container with air holes, and bring it indoors to sit in the warmest spot in the house, then give us a ring.”